Fender 50's P goes out of tune too much!

[johnbegone]

I've owned lots of basses over the years and I've done all kinds of work to them to get them to play and sound how I want, but I've never had this issue. Feel like a newbie all over again.

Just picked up a used (but mint) 50's Precision bass, MIM. Love the bass. I set it up, low action, intonation is great. Love the neck, super straight and solid. I kind of hate the tuners because they are reverse wound and super tight, but I can deal with that.

Anyway, the problem is that I'm finding myself tuning in between songs more often than not which I haven't had to do since I played guitar. I've been using a G&L SB-1 as my main bass for about a year, and I generally tune once for our half hour set. It's always in tune right out of the case as well. Before that I played a Fender Jazz bass with a BAII bridge. Same story, always in tune.

I'm not expecting a miracle, just don't think I should be tuning as much as I do. It's only a problem because I orchestrate radical interludes w/ Ableton, keyboards, a Kaoss pad, and a vocoder in between songs. I'm so used to being able to start right in on those things to transition to the next song without having to stop and tune. I'm totally OK with replacing the tuners and/or the bridge if that's where the issues lay. Just want to make sure I'm not spending all this time and money for nothing. Thanks.

[TomB]

First, I'll assume these aren't new strings because that would be its own story with an obvious solution and you've done this before.

Has this been going on for a while or is it recent? I ask because this is the time of year that SOME necks make their semi-annual "migration" and it's possible you caught that in progress. I've had it show up on the gig myself... but it restabilizes quickly. Sometimes it requires a little truss or saddle adjustment, depending on your preferences. Hey, it's only a theory, but I've never had much problem w/Fender-style tuners, even worn ones, once everything's settled in, have you?

Another thing to check is whether your saddle screws are lowering by themselves. It happens. A hint is that the bass always goes flat in this circustance. It's pretty easy to fix with a drop of nail polish on the saddle screw joint with the barrel, and ther are a few other more advanced tricks if that doesn't work.

Good luck, it can't be too serious.

[johnbegone]

Thanks Tom. I was thinking about the winter months drying up, and to be honest I've only had the bass for about the past month, but even so, I pick up my G&L and it's still in tune and they are both being stored in my studio. I know the bridge trick with a drop of something to keep those saddle screws in check. Haven't done it on this bass yet, but it doesn't feel like they are slipping or getting lower by any means.

In terms of the strings, they are used DR hi-beams that I've had for about a year. I use denature alcohol to clean them. I have about five sets and I've tried two different sets on this bass. No difference between the two.

If i only get responses that say the same thing, then I'll probably wait it out and see if it rights itself in the next couple of weeks. Chicago's weather is weird this time of year. We have snow and 30 degrees one day and then it's 60 the next, so I know that's part of it as well.